Madden Top U.S. Cup Jumper

By Staff Report May 6, 2011

Christian Ahlmann and Taloubet Z recorded Germany’s fourth consecutive World Cup jumping championship May 1 at the Leipzig Exhibition Centre in Germany. Canada’s Eric Lamaze claimed the second-place prize, with the Netherlands’ Jeroen Dubbeldam notching third in a hard-fought contest that included two qualifiers, April 28-29, leading up to the May 1 Rolex/FEI World Cup Jumping Final. U.S. rider Beezie Madden (Cazenovia, NY) missed third place by one point, taking fourth in a hugely impressive eleventh hour rally culminating three days of competition.

Madden rode both Danny Boy and, in the final decisive round, Coral Reef Via Volo. Overall, the US performed better than respectably (and certainly better than at the 2010 World Equestrian Games!) McLain Ward (Brewster, NY) and Antares F galloped home at 10th, followed by Margie Engle (Wellington, FL) and Indigo at 12th. Richard Spooner (Agua Dulce, CA) and Cristallo were the highest-placed West Coast pair in a tie for 13th. Rich Fellers (Wilsonville, OR) riding Flexible, placed 24th, followed by Ashlee Bond (Hidden Hills, CA) on Cadett 7 at 28th.

Netherlands’ Jeroen Dubbeldam rocketed up from 11th to finish third when producing one of only two clear double clears on the final afternoon.

The Rolex/FEI World Cup Final came to a close Sunday afternoon in Leipzig, Germany, with two final rounds of jumping. The U.S. had strong representation in this competition as they sent seven of the 27 riders into the ring. In the third and final competition, riders jumped two rounds over Frank Rothenberger’s demanding 1.60m courses.
The entire field would contest the first round, with 19 riders returning to the arena one last time to determine who would be crowned champion.
In the final round, Madden’s Belgian Warmblood mare made easy work of the 12-obstacle course. In the second round, Madden made an incredible save heading to the double combination, fence 11, after Coral Reef Via Volo spooked at the crowd heading to the double combination after fence 10. “She went amazing,” Madden said. “There’s probably nothing she can’t jump, and I had a lot of confidence in that when I went out there.”

Madden was the highest-placing female rider in the 2011 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final and she and Coral Reef Via Volo were one of only two combinations to jump two clear rounds.

Along with Madden and Spooner, the U.S.’s Engle,  Fellers, Bond and Michelle Spadone, of Califon, NJ, all made it down to the wire, and the very last round of the Final.

U.S. Chef d’Equipe George Morris was very happy with this year’s Finals and veteran riders. “Great horses, great competition,” Morris said. “I think our top group, which are older people with great horses and great experience are world-class.”

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